Have your say on school expansion plans

Parents and residents are being encouraged to have their say on an exciting new proposal for the expansion of a primary school in Billericay.

Essex County Council wants to create 210 new places at Brightside Primary School.

The project would see a new building constructed on the site, creating nine new classrooms, a food technology area, studio space and special educational needs rooms.

More parking spaces would also be made available as part of the scheme.

Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We continue to be able to offer the vast majority of pupils a place at one of their parents’ preferred schools and were delighted to offer a record percentage their first preference for this September.

“Our ongoing investment is vital in maintaining such a strong track record and we are planning to spend about £230million on creating new mainstream school places over the next three years.

“Projects such as this one are crucial if we are to continue to meet the rising demand for school places and I would encourage residents and parents to have their say on the proposals.”

Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the planning process, it is hoped work will start in summer 2018 and be complete by summer 2019.

Temporary works will also take place this summer to allow the school to take a bulge year group in September.

A questionnaire and details of the plans are available online at www.essex.gov.uk/schoolconsultations until Saturday, 17 June 2017.